Statement by Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Mary Coughlan TD

Enda Kenny’s call on anyone who disagrees with his Irish language policy to ‘grow up’  is an insult to the majority of Irish people who see through his increasingly bizarre defence of his discredited plan to downgrade the status of Irish in our education system. The only one who needs to ‘grow up’ and admit he is wrong on this issue is Enda Kenny. Speaking on An Saol Ó Dheas on Raidió na Gaeltachta this morning Mr. Kenny failed yet again to provide a single shred of evidence or research to support his position.

In recent weeks, as he has come under increasing pressure on this issue, Mr.Kenny has been talking vaguely about ‘carrying out a review’ and ‘a consultation process’ before introducing his policy. When questioned by Helen Ní Shé on RnaG this morning Mr.Kenny insisted that he would implement his policy irrespective of the outcome of his proposed review. Either Mr. Kenny doesn’t understand the basic premise of consultation or he is trying to con people.

Earlier today, Mr. Kenny claimed on Radio Kerry that young Irish people ‘hate’ the Irish language. This is both untrue and an insult to thousands of young people nationwide.

As with the original basis for his policy, his latest assertions are not based in any research and have no scientific justification. Instead, Enda is relying entirely on anecdotal evidence gathered from talking to school children. One wonders if he asked those same schoolchildren whether they liked Maths, or English, or Geography or, indeed, whether or not they liked school!

In the TG4 debate, it was obvious that Enda was unable to substantiate his position when challenged by Micheál Martin . He said that it was a ‘personal issue’. That much at least appears to be true as nobody with any understanding of the issue agrees with him.

I would spell out a few basic facts for Deputy Kenny. In a recent Ipsos MRBI opinion poll the findings clearly showed that 61% of people supported the retention of the current status of Irish at Leaving Cert level. This figure was 65% for 15-24 year olds with only 26% supporting Mr.Kenny's plan.  All research shows that a huge majority of Irish people, upwards of 80%, have a favourable attitude to Irish.

All the scientific evidence and research clearly contradicts Enda Kenny’s broader policy stance. In fact, the evidence and academic advice clearly indicates that the adoption of his policy will lead to the gradual decline of the language. This will undo the great work underway over recent years to promote the language nationwide and protect its status as the primary community language of the Gaeltacht. It is now time for Enda Kenny to grow up and admit he is simply wrong on this issue and to stop insulting people with his illogical arguments and phoney ‘reviews’.